Recently, the judicial system has significantly become one of the institutions that incorporate artificial intelligence technology. Artificial intelligence applied for judicial functions has a much more efficiency, knowledge, and fairness in comparison with the human judge. However, there are also limitations and that primarily depend on its basis: big data, algorithms, and computational capacity instead of natural intelligence.

Judicial AI cannot replace human judges completely because there are fundamental differences in conceptual frameworks, application contexts, and inherent abilities. This paper aims to investigate the legal implications and all the ways through which AI affects the legal system. The main reason for the backlog in cases is the complexity of the issues, lack of established procedures, and the insufficient number of judges and staff.

Identified primary contributors to the backlog are a lack of available judges and attorneys, with a lack of sufficient and quality court facilities and other means. However, what remains rare is research to seek efficient means by resolving such a massive number of cases to lessen its amount. This essay suggests that the strategic use of AI can significantly reduce the number of pending court cases and benefit all stakeholders, including the public, judges, attorneys, and clients.

The paper explores the application of AI within the legal system, focusing on three primary areas: legal research, legal reasoning, and outcome prediction. The paper discusses the potential application of AI in the Indian Judicial System with crucial aspects such as bias, precedents, and cost to be considered for proper incorporation of AI. Moreover, the study explores lawful applications of AI and judges the feasibility of their deployment within the Indian legal scenario.

Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has established its significance in an era characterized by rapid technological advancements. Its impact is evident across various sectors, such as healthcare, where it assists in surgical procedures, logistics through autonomous vehicles, and marketing by analysing consumer behaviour. Therefore, incorporating AI into the judicial system could enhance the efficiency and sustainability of justice delivery.

AI technologies have the power to revolutionize civil and criminal procedures, significantly supporting judges and lawyers with the processes and bringing down the time needed to accomplish a host of trial-related matters. India is now at a very critical point in the development of data privacy legislation, which will have a very significant impact on the operation of AI within the country. Email, video conferencing, and other electronic communication tools are all necessary for information sharing across geographically dispersed locations and for better decision-making.

These technologies are not only used in business sectors but also in legal and public systems. Moreover, the Indian government is investing a lot in digitalization as a national progress. The government is also participating in the 'Digital India' initiative. People also expect better quality digital services from the government as many of them work in the private sector. This trend indicates the need for more innovation into all spheres - public services and administration of justice, too.[1]

It could reveal some precious insights, enhance the efficiency of the legal framework, and reduce some of the burdens on officials by implementing Artificial Intelligence in judicial processes. Over the last ten years, a significant number of these cases have remained unresolved in both lower and higher courts. Such thorough research has been conducted on what causes this surge of the rapid growth in case numbers.

WHY IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REQUIRED IN INDIAN COURTS?
Judiciary forms an important function in the dispensation of justice in any nation. However, in India, because of its immense population, this has been challenging to handle the rising cases on an ongoing basis, thereby posing an unbearable pressure on the judicial system. Millions of cases are still pending at all levels of Indian courts, from local to supreme, due to the shortage of judges. Several initiatives are being undertaken to address this issue, such as promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods and removing redundant laws.

However, the potential of artificial intelligence in this regard is largely untapped. The Indian court system shows low levels of technological integration, as most tasks are done manually, which leads to inefficiencies and delays in the delivery of justice. [2]Hence, in addition to traditional methods, innovative methods are required to restore the effectiveness and efficiency of the justice system and make it sustainable in the long run. Artificial intelligence in courts can significantly reduce case backlogs and speed up the delivery of justice.

Why Is Artificial Intelligence Required In Indian Courts?

Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software (SUVAS): The Supreme Court of India has rolled out a formal application, building on Artificial Intelligence, for translation of legal documents and orders in English into nine regional languages. This is the first tentative foray of the judiciary into the technology arena for Artificial Intelligence.

Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court's Efficiency (SUPACE): This is a newly introduced tool by the Supreme Court of India. It aggregates pertinent facts and legal information to provide judges with tailored insights. It is designed to deliver results that align with the unique needs of each case and the individual thought processes of the judges.

The Official Multilingual Mobile Application of the Supreme Court of India: The Supreme Court of India launched an official multilingual mobile app designed along with the National Informatics Centre. The new-age application allows citizens to access case details, judgments, significant circulars, display boards, and a plethora of other relevant information in just one click.

E-Courts: Another key outcome of judicial reforms is that all information associated with court orders and judgments can be viewed freely online. The establishment of E-Courts will ensure that cases are swiftly litigated, filed records are less voluminous, and recordings made under it are highly credible and details more transparently disclose the functioning of courts.
An Artificial Intelligence System developed by IIT Kharagpur to read Court Orders: Research scholars at IIT Kharagpur have developed an AI-driven system, which reads out court orders and judgments. In this technology, machine learning methods are used in order to catch law violations.

How Is Artificial Intelligence Helping Indian Courts?

Many advantages are brought about by AI in the event of judges. Artificial intelligence can empower the judicial process, enhance efficiency and accuracy, and better effectiveness. With AI technologies, it is possible to hasten the review of vast databases on legal precedents, statutes, and case law, providing judges with relevant information. Such a capability can considerably hasten the judicial research process to ensure that judges come equipped with comprehensive and updated information in their decision-making.

In India, most criminal and civil trials are usually resolved after years. This length of time renders the justice dispensation inefficient and delayed. Still, by streamlining case management, more cases can be disposed of faster. This will provide citizens with speedy justice. That way, more people will benefit from the speedy delivery of decisions that have the potential to dramatically change their lives and businesses.[3]

By analysing historical case data, AI systems can predict possible outcomes for on-going cases. One major problem facing the judiciary is the level of pending matters and a lack of adequate judges to deal with the issues. To address these problems, courts could begin by adopting predictive analytics to provide the possible results to the disputing parties, urging them to settle the cases outside the court room. This way saves the court resources but helps parties bypass lengthy and complicated processes in a trial.

AI-powered technologies highlight critical details in legal documents and identify relevant information. This helps judges quickly understand the core facts of a case and focus on essential aspects during hearings. AI helps judges better organize and prioritize their caseloads, thus making case management easier. Automated systems also make scheduling easier, track deadlines, and optimize workflow management, which helps increase efficiency.

NLP technologies allow computers to process human language effectively. The application of NLP can be extended into many different areas. Judges utilize Natural Language Processing to summarize case documents, find legal arguments and relevant information in both spoken and written statements. For instance, ROSS Intelligence is an AI-powered legal research tool that uses NLP to interpret inquiries that have been phrased in natural language to provide relevant legal insights.[4]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies enable secure video conferencing, real-time transcription, and language translation, among other functionalities that enhance the efficiency of virtual courtrooms and remote proceedings. This is particularly vital in situations that necessitate remote hearings. AI systems can act as decision-support tools, supplying judges with pertinent information, precedents, and legal analyses to assist in their decision-making. Nonetheless, it is important to note that AI is only an auxiliary resource, and the final decision-making authority lies with the judge in all cases[5].

Positive Instance Of Artificial Intelligence:

Judges can make use of AI-driven technologies just as lawyers do, to facilitate several aspects of a case, thereby reducing the aggregate time taken to arrive at judgments. This technology may also speed up trial procedures for judges, which in turn will shorten the duration of cases that are pending. It frees up the time of attorneys so that they can focus on the perfection of their legal arguments, engage in legalistic debates, and administer interferences of the law.

Legal artificial intelligence has already shown some successes. Tackling the challenge of declining cases presented before the courts will be met through the direct utilization of AI tools in judicial decision-making. It is expected that the introduction of artificial intelligence to the legal world will greatly improve the efficiency of those managing the cases. The main objective is to preserve judicial resources and allow case-handling personnel to focus their efforts on more complex and diverse cases in order to make the best possible use of judicial resources.[6]

It can help resolve problems like "inconsistent judgments in similar cases" and "uneven application of the law," which is favourable for harmonizing local judicial standards and preventing biased rulings. In straightforward cases, characterized by clear facts, explicit laws, and minimal disputes, such as traffic accidents claims, bank loan agreements, and public information requests, the automated generation of judgment documents can heavily reduce judges' burdens.

The collective insight of the judges has now reached a level that goes above the "critical threshold" of human perception. When the law is applied uniformly and consistently, similar or parallel cases can produce similar results, making it plausible to maintain a judicial principle of "related cases should be decided similarly." [7]Artificial intelligence will play a great role in balancing this out.

Negative Instance Of Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial intelligence is just the first step toward replicating human intelligence. Even though all the tools are available, it is a tough task to implement AI techniques. Just as nuclear fission can light up cities or destroy them, artificial intelligence is also bivalent. The unstructured nature of data poses a challenge to the judiciary. Judges present information in a personalized manner even when cases have similar timelines and general frameworks.

This has resulted in conflicting judgments on similar facts, which, in turn, support different legal precedents. This may make AI-driven solutions inconsistent. The situation may become worse with the cases that do not get solved according to the judicial authority and societal acceptance.

The application of artificial intelligence in the judiciary still struggles with issues of limited implementation, focus, and tangible impact. Although current AI possesses extensive knowledge, its learning trajectory is still dictated by the programming established by its creators. AI can only be effectively used in scenarios characterized by a singular knowledge system, clear distinctions between correct and incorrect answers, and identifiable patterns and structures.

Of course, society should not ignore judicial AI error rates. In the case of judicial AI algorithms, there would surely be bias, though it would hardly be on a fair and neutral path. [8]It is, though, if implemented appropriately, then economies of scale can be brought about and more accessible services achieved. It is a misconception that training AI is easy because, in some cases, it can be difficult to navigate cases where legal issues cannot be resolved by a specific set of criteria or during periods of insufficient evidence.

Legal Concerns Of Artificial Intelligence:

The extent of the applicability of AI is wide in the health, finance, educational, transport, and legal arenas, but it is not yet possible to state a commonly acceptable definition of AI. AI may replace human judgment and decision in almost every subject area that is of concern, from frivolous to highly significant. Thus, there also arises the issue of accountability regarding AI-related wrongdoing.

If AI acts on human directives and does something that would be illegal if a human did it, what should happen? This question touches on the principle of the exclusion of liability based on the unforeseen nature of circumstances or mental incapacity. As the technology advances, issues related to data security, privacy, human rights, and ethical considerations will arise, requiring effective self-regulation from developers.

External oversight will also be needed from the judiciary, through judicial review and constitutional frameworks, as well as legislative measures. In India, machine learning has been applied mainly to automate backend processes in the legal domain, and there is much to be done before it can be used effectively in judicial decision-making.

Many judgments, especially those of lower courts, are yet to be fully digitized. [9]With the current global trends, it is likely that more AI tools will be integrated into the Indian legal framework. While AI and machine learning should enhance human decision-making, they should not replace it. The ethical and responsible use of AI and ML in legal and judicial contexts is increasingly feasible for improving efficiency.

Conclusion:
In the contemporary legal frameworks, it has become more crucial to integrate Artificial Intelligence within the judicial system to meet the challenge of case pendency. AI has the potential to improve efficiency, reduce backlogs, and expedite legal processes. While the Indian Government has already initiated the concept of e-courts, its capacity needs to be expanded in order to deal with the existing caseload effectively.

Electronic courts have better case and courtroom management. It provides a more efficient and time-saving platform for justice delivery. The advantages of using AI in courts are improved case management, data-driven insights for decision-making and quicker document reviews. However, biases, data privacy, and transparency are to be taken with utmost care. This balance is important between the benefits and drawbacks of AI to create a fair, efficient, and technologically advanced judicial system that meets the demands of our changing legal environment.[10]

The application of AI across different sectors, including the legal system, can significantly help judges and attorneys, who are fundamental to the justice delivery framework. While no technology, however advanced, can replace a human judge, it can assist in making decisions while also ensuring that the handling of such a huge volume of cases does not dilute justice. It may also ultimately lead to reducing the average length of the trials.

More efficient resolution of cases would ease the backlog in the legal system by reducing pending cases. That shall ultimately lead to an accomplishment of a noble goal by giving the people efficient and sustainable justice.

The Indian judiciary has significantly advanced by integrating artificial intelligence. This technology has been effective in dealing with the problem of pendency, which is often related to case management and research activities that become routine. Artificial intelligence tools are designed to enhance access and efficiency in the system while assisting decision-making without determining outcomes.

This ambitious initiative needs to be approached with a proper understanding of the ethical and legal implications so that AI does not replace legal principles but is a tool for justice. As we venture into this new landscape, we need to remain vigilant to ensure that technology benefits humanity and not the other way around.

End Notes:

1. India at a Critical Juncture in Data Privacy Legislation: Implications for AI and Digital Transformation (2024) ∙ 12 ∙ IndLJ ∙ 34, 37
2. Ashok Sharma, 'Judicial Challenges in India: Population, Pendency, and the Untapped Potential of AI' (2024) ∙ 15 ∙ IndLJ ∙ 78, 82.
3. Mohit Shukla, 'Artificial Intelligence and the Indian Judiciary: Enhancing Efficiency and Speedy Justice' (2024) ∙ 22 ∙ ALJ ∙ 145, 149
4. Nivash Jeevanandam, AI and NLP in Legal Processes: Enhancing Judicial Efficiency (1st edn Bloomsbury 2023) 67–85.
5. Anurag, 'AI-Powered Technologies in Judicial Processes: Enhancing Case Management and Virtual Courtroom Efficiency' (2024) ∙ 30 ∙ JLTech ∙ 98, 103.
6. Jidnya Sharad Thakur, The Role of AI in Judicial Decision-Making: Enhancing Efficiency and Case Management (1st edn OUP 2024) 45–68.
7. Florence G'sell, AI in Judicial Systems: Consistency and Efficiency in Decision-Making (2nd edn Cambridge University Press 2022) 112–134.
8. B. Chaudhary, Challenges and Ethical Dilemmas of AI in Judicial Systems (3rd edn Routledge 2023) 89–105.
9. A. Zafar, AI and Legal Accountability: Challenges and Opportunities (1st edn Springer 2021) 56–72.
10. A.D. Dory, E-Courts and AI: Balancing Efficiency and Fairness in Justice Delivery (2nd edn LexisNexis 2022) 103–120.